Written, Edited and Fact Checked by Taras Kim
Updated: September 30, 2024
It's important to know how much hiring professional movers will cost when planning a move within Philadelphia or a long-distance moving outside of the city. This guide will provide you with an understanding of the moving service rates, along with information on what is typically included in the price and advice on how to prevent unforeseen fees.
Table of contents
Average Cost of Local Movers in Philadelphia
Hiring movers in Philadelphia usually costs between $90 and $180 per hour for two movers and a truck.
Below is a breakdown of the moving company rates in Philadelphia by the size of your living space:
| Moving Size | Crew Size | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Room or Less | 2 movers crew | Starting at $270+ |
| Studio | 2 movers crew | Starting at $320+ |
| One Bedroom | 2-3 movers crew | Ranging from $370 to $580 |
| Two Bedroom | 3 movers crew | Ranging from $630 to $850 |
| Three Bedroom (house) | 3-4 movers crew | Ranging from $1000 to $1300 |
| Four Bedroom (house) | 4 movers crew | Starting at $1400+ |
How much are movers in Philadelphia
💲 Average Cost of Movers in Philadelphia: around $120 an hour for 2 movers and a truck.
Discover more about our pricing.
What's Included in the Hourly Moving Rate in Philadelphia?
The price of movers depends on the number of laborers you hire. For example, moving a studio apartment requires fewer movers, typically two, which helps keep costs lower. On the other hand, a four-bedroom home will need a larger crew to handle the volume and size of the items. The more movers involved, the quicker the move can be completed, but this also increases the hourly rate. If you opt for a full-service move, the cost will be higher as it includes additional tasks like packing, loading, and unpacking.
Most Philadelphia moving companies try to bundle as many different charges into the hourly price, to avoid giving customers too many details. Below we'll break down what an hourly rate with movers typically includes.
Included in Moving Company Prices:
- 🛠️ Labor: Basic, priced hourly, contingent on the number of movers, and sometimes on their experience.
- ⛽ Fuel, tolls, and gas: Tolls and gas are parts of the charges that pay compensation for the use of the moving truck.
- 🛡️ Moving Insurance: For your items.
- 📦 Protection Materials: Boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and the like – all that is used to protect things when transferring.
- 📋 Additional Services: Packing, storage, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, special care for some items, etc.
Other Factors Influencing Moving Prices:
- 🚛 Distance of the Move: For example, a long-distance move results in spending more money on the truck, overnight lodging, and money for lunches for the movers. Often, movers have an hourly rate per distance noted separately.
- 📅 Moving Day: Movers often charge more on busy days.
- 🏢 Stairs or Absence of Elevators: This can increase the time of labor or the number of movers required.
- 🚶♂️ Long Carry Fees: If the distance between the truck and the home is significant.
- 🚐 Shuttle Service: If you need to move things on a bigger truck, this can mean an additional cost for movers.
As you can see, the price of moving with professional movers can be really complicated. This is the main reason why it is essential to check with the company you are trying to book way before your actual move and, preferably in writing, what is exactly included in this rate and if you have to pay something additionally for your Philadelphia move.
📢 Important Information:
For local movers, you'll receive moving cost estimates based on an hourly rate. This is only an estimate—if the move takes less or more time, the final cost will adjust accordingly. Be ready to pay more if the job runs longer, or save money if it’s done quicker.
Optimal Moving Days for Cost Efficiency
Movers will charge more since most clients are looking for their services during the weekends and at the end of the month. If you can, try to find the mid-week and mid-month days for potential discounts.
- Avoid Peak Times:
- Weekends & Month-Ends: These periods are highest in demand, so movers often charge more.
- Summer:This season is very busy, meaning that flexibility is low and pricing could be high.
- Embrace the Off-Season:In fall, early spring, or winter, there may be lower rates and availability from moving companies.
- Flexibility is Key: If your time allows it, be ready to move at the snap of a finger. Movers may want to fill in with some off-peak specials.
💡 Extra Tip: Inquire about off-peak hour discounts. There are companies that will charge you less for moves done very early in the morning or in the evening.
If you want to learn how to save even more money on your move, we recommend reading our article on budget moving. Here you'll get not just tips, but an entire strategy for an cost-effective move.
🔍 Remember: Even at the peak of the moving season, getting multiple quotes from movers guarantees you find the most competitive price.
Cost of Packing and Moving
How much does packing service cost? Most companies charge their standard hourly labor rate for packing. So, if movers are $100/hour per person, a two-mover packing team would also cost $200/hour. Remember, that's only a labor charge, and always ask your moving company for an estimate on packing material costs. Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc., can add up quickly.
💲 Average packing cost for one-bedroom apartment, two movers—likely, two hours: $500.
Learn more about our packing materials pricing.
📖 Packing Guide: If you want to save money on packing for your move, you can do it yourself. Find out more in our article on DIY packing.
Storage Solutions and Rates
Using a moving company with storage services saves time. They handle all details, including finding and organizing storage.
How much do moving companies charge for storage? Storage rates vary based on location, size, and features like climate control and security. Many moving companies in Philadelphia also offer storage services. In Philadelphia, expect to pay the standard moving rate plus a monthly storage fee.
💲 Average storage cost for a one-bedroom apartment, this is typically around $300 per month.
Long-Distance Moving Costs from Philadelphia
Long-distance or interstate moving services have varied pricing. For instance, a move from Philadelphia to another state might cost from $1500 to up to $15000 depending on the destination. Prices are often based on the weight or volume of your belongings. While shared truck space can be more economical, it might take longer for delivery. Alternatively, hiring local movers from Philadelphia to New York might cost around $1600 for a one-bedroom apartment but offers faster delivery.
📢 Important Information:
If we are talking about interstate moving, most movers organize such moves on a flat-rate pricing model: this means that the interstate moving costs assigned to your move will be final and will not change whether the job takes more or less time.
DIY Moving
A professional mover is the best choice if you want a quick move with all of your belongings intact. However, this is not the cheapest way. You can try moving with your own hands.
There are several ways to do this:
- DIY move: You can take care of the entire move yourself. Transportation, driving, loading and unloading, packing and unpacking. This is the most complicated option, but also the cheapest.
- Renting a truck: If you don't have the right transportation, you can rent a truck and do all the work yourself.
- Movers for loading and unloading: Hire professional movers or third-party movers for just the loading and unloading. This is a great balance between your own efforts and costs.
- Optional services: You can hire a professional moving company only for certain tasks, such as packing and unpacking, and handle the rest of the move yourself.
Moving Truck Rental Costs
To rent a moving truck in Philadelphia, the typical costs are as follows:
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Base cost: Ranges from $19 to $39 per day.
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Mileage fee: $0.92 to $1.12 per mile.
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Additional fees: These can include truck coverage ($20 to $55), equipment rental (e.g., dollies, blankets), and parking permits if needed (around $25 to $50 depending on the area).
Additional Tips for Reducing Costs
To make your move as cost-effective as possible, consider the following:
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Get Multiple Quotes: Always reach out to several moving companies for quotes. This ensures you're getting the most competitive price and helps you understand what different companies include in their pricing.
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Flexibility Pays Off: If your schedule allows, consider moving during off-peak times like early mornings, late evenings, or outside of the summer season. Movers may offer discounts during these periods to fill their schedule during the non-moving season.